PAC
HANDBOOK
WWW.VPUL.UPENN.EDU/platthouse
PAC Handbook
This handbook is intended for members of the Performing Arts Council.
It should provide all resources including personnel, policies, and
equipment necessary to produce a show at Penn.
Last edited September 2014
Table of Contents
Page 2-3 ------------------------------------------------- Intro, Meetings, Auditions
Page 3-4 ------------------------------------------------- Rehearsals
Page 5-8 ------------------------------------------------- Production Information and Checklists
Page 11 -------------------------------------------------- General Policies, Workshops, Community Service
Page 13-15 ---------------------------------------------- Instructors, Budgeting, and Shop
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What PAC is
PAC is the Performing Arts Council of the University of Pennsylvania.
What we do
PAC and the office of Platt Student Performing Arts House exist to support the ongoing activities of the
member organizations of PAC including rehearsals and shows, and to provide opportunities for skill building
and career exploration in a variety of performing arts related fields.
Who we work closely with
Office of Student Affairs
Visual Sound
Annenberg Center
Theatre Arts
Music Department
VPUL Facilities
Dunlop Facilities
Museum Facilities
PAC Meetings
Once a month the Performing Arts Council holds mandatory meetings which all member organizations must
attend.
External Communication
For a variety of reasons you must use the office address for any external communication with clients and
vendors. The address should always include your group name, your name if possible and all of the following:
Platt Student Performing Arts House
160 Stouffer Commons
3702 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6026
Administrative Staff
Director –Student Performing Arts: Laurie McCall, lmccall@upenn.edu, 215-898-2312
Associate Director –Maria Fumai Dietrich, mariafu@upenn.edu -215-898-2150
Peter Whinnery: Technical Supervisor – whinnery@upenn.edu, 215-898-5823
If you are having packages sent – please have them sent only in your chair/president’s name with the group
name and Platt Student Performing Arts House in the address.
There is also a fax machine in room 170 available for PAC related business. You may have things faxed to
215-573-8056. Please be sure to have the sender include your name and your group name on the fax.
Our web site
www.vpul.upenn.edu/platthouse
Email: platthouse@lists.upenn.edu – goes to both Laurie and Maria
Pre-Production Meetings
Early each semester the Director of the Platt Student Performing Arts House and the Technical Supervisor of
Student Performing Arts will hold mandatory pre-production meetings. Each group that has a show scheduled
for that semester must send at least 2 representatives to the meeting, preferably stage manager and/or technical
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director types. If at that point there is not at minimum a stage manager assigned for each production, that
organization will lose their rehearsal space until they assign one. Light and sound board operators (if needed)
must be assigned by the 6 week production meeting with the Technical Supervisor, or the group will lose
rehearsal space.
Auditions
Auditions are held at the discretion of sub-committees. Each sub-committee chair is responsible for monitoring
audition and call back times to avoid conflicts. It is expected that students who audition and are called back go
to each call back they receive.
Rehearsals
Rehearsal space is never guaranteed. It is possible that rehearsals can be cancelled or moved, up to the day of
due to University events, inclement weather or other special circumstances.
There are never rehearsals scheduled when the University is closed. That includes all major holidays and
breaks.
For groups using copyrighted material. No rehearsal space will be allocated until the Director of Student
Performing Arts receives written confirmation of rights and royalties.
Typically evening rehearsals are not scheduled on Fridays or Saturdays, access is limited.
If you have a problem with a VPUL space (Houston Hall, Williams, ARCH, IGT, Irvine) not being opened or
staffed please call a VPUL manager at 215-399-6019.
Rehearsals in Irvine
1) After 5pm on weekdays and at all times on weekends, only the one set of main doors at the corner of 34ths
and Spruce will be unlocked.
2) Those exterior doors will be locked each night at 10pm (after which time there will be no re-entry).
3) If your rehearsal begins at 10 pm (some Dance Rehearsals - the doors will be locked at 10:15 pm)
4) Always have your their PennCards with you at all times.
Specific Rehearsal Issues
A Cappella
Because of the more flexible nature and size of A Cappella groups, PAC and SPA provide limited rehearsal
space for ACK groups. Most ACK groups rehearse in classrooms or multipurpose rooms in VPUL spaces like
Williams Hall or Houston Hall. These spaces can be reserved at
http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/perelmanquad/reserve/reserve.php. You must request with plenty of notice – the
ideal is 2 to 4 weeks in advance. In addition, many a cappella groups will reserve space in college houses. This
must be done, usually by a resident, with the main office of that college house. The Platt House is available on
a limited basis for a cappella rehearsals, typically one rehearsal slot per week.
Dance
The Dance rehearsal schedule is done on a semesterly basis by the Dance Arts Council Chair, approved by the
Director of the Platt Student Performing Arts House in any number of suitable spaces including the Emily Sachs
Dance Gallery in Irvine, Platt Rehearsal Room in Houston Hall, The Parents 2004 Studio in the Platt House,
The Harnwell College House Dance Gallery, and the Studios in the Pottruck Fitness Center. All rehearsal
changes, inquires etc. should be addressed to both the DAC chair and platthouse@pobox.upenn.edu.
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Theatre
Theatre, Mask and Wig, and Bloomers rehearsal schedules are done on a monthly basis. Requests must be
submitted to the Associate Director of the Platt House (forms will be emailed) by the 10th of the month prior to
the requested month. Theatre rehearsal spaces available to PAC are 179 and 180 in the Platt Student
Performing Arts House, Platt Rehearsal Room, IGT Stage and Rehearsal Room, ARCH room 313, and
Annenberg 209 and 516. You cannot tape out sets in every room, please request permission before taping a
ground plan in any space. Once a group is in their performance space for tech week they are not allocated
rehearsal space.
Music and others
Most music organizations other than a cappella establish semesterly rehearsal schedules requested to the
Associate Director to be scheduled in the Platt Student Performing Arts House.
All
If you are not using regularly scheduled rehearsal space you must cancel it with at least 2 working days
notice. If you do not, it is possible that the facility will charge your group a fee. Cancellations should be sent to
the Associate Director of the Platt Student Performing Arts House and your sub-committee chair.
It is sometimes possible to schedule additional rehearsal time. This should always be requested through the
Associate Director.
Shows
Yearbook Photographers
You should always have the yearbook photographers on your comp list, particularly in the Annenberg Center.
They will not let them in without a ticket. This applies to others like videographers, etc.
PAC Executive Board
PAC Exec are granted a ticket to each of your shows if they wish to attend. This is to guarantee that the Exec
Board can get to as many shows as possible to support all PAC groups.
Groups that deal with rights and royalties
You must request rights and royalties in a timely fashion. There are a few companies that cannot take either
purchase order or procard and will not send materials without payment. This means that you must work
significantly in advance since issuing a check from an invoice can take three to five weeks.
Special Audiences
If you expect, intend to or have invited any of the following to your event (shows or otherwise), the Director of
Student Performing Arts must be notified three weeks in advance of the event.
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Any elected official – local, regional, national or international.
Any Press other than UPenn (DP, Almanac, Yearbook, Penn Current, etc).
Anyone with a basic level of fame or public popularity.
If you are uncertain about meeting the criteria above; notify the Director and they will make the determination.
Dance
Student Performing Arts owns two dance floors one is regular marley the other has a harder surface for tap,
ballroom, swing and Latin style dance. The floors are for shows only and must be transported by the group to
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and from the show location. To arrange for pick up and drop off contact Visual Sound at
irvprod@pobox.upenn.edu.
Collaborations
Due to availability of adequate performance venues every PAC organization may perform up to one and a half
shows each academic year. That is one solo show and one collaborative show. The collaboration must be
approved by PAC Exec and the Director of the Platt Student Performing Arts House – criteria listed below. A
PAC group may perform one solo show or two collaborative shows if they so desire.
PAC Collaborations must be worked out between the two organizations. Collaborative shows will receive
additional tech time to facilitate the coordination, but not more than 10 additional hours. Collaborations may
take the form of a true collaboration – that is two organizations producing and performing one show together, or
it may be a sharing of space – that is one group does a shortened early show and the other a shortened later
show.
All schedules and financial arrangements must be made prior to the show and be kept in writing. The PAC
executive board or the Director of the Platt Student Performing Arts House are available to consult on financial
or other arrangements. It is the responsibility of both organizations to follow-up on financial matters to be
certain that revenue is divided appropriately. It is important to know that most facilities will only transfer
revenue to one account; the producing organizations must follow-up with OSL financial staff to divide
proceeds.
If a PAC organization wishes to perform more frequently, they may not use any SAC allocated funds for said
performance - that is the space and all production costs must be secured and paid for by revenue (only if there is
no SAC debt).
Production requirements
Performance groups are expected to produce their show with the funds supplied by the Student Activities
Council (SAC) and any additional funds they may have from revenue. Production costs of all approved (by the
Director of the Platt Student Performing Arts House) performance venues will be covered by SAC, not taken
from allocated production funds. All facility charges will show as a deficit to each organization on SAC on-line
until the end of each fiscal year when those costs are credited back to the organization. Any non-standard
production costs (see below) will not be credited back to the organization. Such costs must be approved by the
Director of the Platt Student Performing Arts House before the production, and will only be approved if the
group has sufficient revenue at that time to cover said costs.
Additional information on productions, including building a staff and sample production schedules is available
at www.dolphin.upenn.edu/pac/PAC%20Handbook.doc.
Non-Standard Production Costs:
Follow-spots
Additional staffing for video taping
Additional staffing for curtain (Zell)
Additional lighting or sound equipment beyond what is provided in the theatre.
More than 7 microphones for a cappella groups
LCD projectors and screens
Securing Personal Items During A Show:
You must be responsible for securing your personal belongings and valuables during your show and sometimes
rehearsals. It is generally the stage manager’s responsibility to gather those items (or for the cast member to
give to the Stage Manager) place them in individual zip lock bags and then keep them with him/her at all times
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in the booth or wherever during the show so that at no time are valuables left unattended. This also means you
should make your SM’s job easier by not bringing laptops, multiple ipods, etc. to the show so that they have a
reasonable amount to manage. Most of the spaces we perform in are difficult to secure completely.
Production Check List
The Players
Director, Student Performing Arts: Laurie McCall, Platt House, lmccall@upenn.edu
Associate Director, Student Performing Arts: Maria Fumai Dietrich, mariafu@upenn.edu
SPA Tech Advisor: Peter Whinnery, 41st and Walnut, 8-5823, whinnery@upenn.edu
Annenberg Center Student Tech Advisor: Paul Haberek and Jim Cacovic, AC, 3-7287, graceduf@ac.upenn.edu
Annenberg Center Director of Audience Services: Christopher Dorman-doormanc@ac.upenn.edu
Visual Sound Technical Director: Dawn Blandford/Ryan McTaggart 200 Irvine, 573-8511,
pqav@pobox.upenn.edu
Annenberg Center Box Office Manager: Al Freeman, freeman@ac.upenn.edu, 427 AC, 8-9081
Assistant to the Director of VPUL Facilities –for Irvine Events:
Laura Carney, 307 Houston Hall, 3-4638, lcarney@upenn.edu
VPUL Facilities Assistant – for Tickets in HH, IGT, Irvine and HH set up for shows:
Britny Molloy – 307 Houston Hall, 8-5552, britny@upenn.edu.
Office of Student Life Financial Advisor to PAC – Jan, 200 Houston Hall, 8-0455, keedzh@upenn.edu
Please be certain to see each of these people to set up details for your show. These meetings are not optional.
Note that your first stop should always be Peter Whinnery. Please note the approximate advanced time that
you should see these people prior to your performance. You may be asked to see others.
Ticketing and Program Note:
All tickets for PAC recognized groups should include “Alcohol is not permitted at this event.”
All program covers will include
“Alcohol is not permitted at this event. Violators will be sent to the Office of Student Conduct.”
Meeting Schedule
All
Dunlop Auditorium
Harrison Auditorium
Rainey Auditorium
Peter Whinnery
6 weeks prior to show
Peter Whinnery, Dawn Blandford/Ryan McTaggart, 3 weeks prior to show
Laurie McCall/Subcomittee Chair
Peter Whinnery, Dawn Blandford/Ryan McTaggart 4 weeks prior to show
Peter Whinnery, Dawn Blandford/Ryan McTaggart 4 weeks prior to show
Iron Gate Theatre, Houston, Peter Whinnery
Irvine Auditorium
Dawn Blandford/Ryan McTaggart
Britny Molloy
Laura Carney
Annenberg Center
Peter Whinnery
Jim Cackovic/Phil Haberek
Christopher Dorman
Al Freeman
6 weeks prior
3 & 2 weeks prior
4 weeks to order tickets and
if Houston Hall to discuss
riser and other set up
4 weeks if using Irvine
6 weeks
4 and 2 weeks
4 weeks
4 weeks and 2 weeks for
shows in Zell
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** Peter Whinnery can prepare you for any production meeting by explaining the expectations and assisting
with design concepts and implementation.
** The Al Freeman, House Manager, will assist you with house management issues in all Annenberg Center
spaces. You MUST speak with the House Manager.
** All shows in IGT, Irvine and Houston Hall must have tickets printed by VPUL (see checklist).
The following ticketing policies apply to the Annenberg Center.
1. Students must meet with either the box office manager or the asst. box office manager before any tickets
will go on sale. (This will be a separate meeting from my 4 and 2 week meeting, occurring sometime
after my 4 week meeting and before the 2 week meeting.)
2. At that meeting, all ticketing information must be provided. No changes or updates will be accepted.
3. A hard deadline will be set for comp lists at that time. If the deadline is missed, no comp list will be
accepted.
4. The company manager for the performance group is expected to be available for any ticketing questions
or problems while tickets are on sale. (including prior to and during performances) If they are not,
resolutions will be left to the sole discretion of the acting box office manager.
Other important issues:
** Any tech requests, above and beyond the lighting and sound provided by the performance space must be
approved by the Platt House Director.
** All tech week schedules must not exceed the maximum tech staff hour limitations for your organization.
Theatre: 50 hours, Musicals: 60 hours, Dance: 40 hours, Comedy, ACK, Other: 20 hours
** As a standard, Zellerbach users will not be permitted to use the front curtain.
** Prince seating capacity - With Row A out, they will release 177 tickets of the 189 seats (200 with row A in
of the 211) for sale. The evening of the show, the remaining tickets will be available for walk-up sales at the
box office. This is to ensure houses are not oversold and they do not violate fire code.
** You must provide a full student tech staff, minimum light and sound operator and stage manager. (This
includes DAC, ACK, SMAC and TAC-E)
** All final production schedules and staff lists must be submitted to the SPA Director and SPA Tech Advisor 2
weeks prior to tech week.
** You must submit a written show report form to PAC exec within two weeks after the show has ended. The
form can be found here – www.dolphin.upenn.edu/pac click producing a show. Then click forms.
** You must provide your own ushers: IGT-6, Houston Hall-4, Rainey-4, Dunlop-6, Harrison-6, Irvine-6,
Zellerbach-6, Prince-4. In the Annenberg Center one additional student will be needed to serve as dressing
room post.
** You are responsible for not exceeding the seating capacity of any space. If you are not sure of the seating
capacity check with the Director of Student Performing Arts or Technical Supervisor.
** If you are using Iron Gate Theatre, loading and unloading must happen from the rear driveway off Sansom
Street. You may NOT use the small parking area in front. The rear gate must be kept locked at all times. You
may NOT park any cars inside the gate.
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**IGT Load ins on Sundays cannot happen till 1 pm.
** If you are in a VPUL Space (IGT, Stouffer, Irvine or Houston Hall) and there is no staff person to unlock the
space call 215-399-6019.
Annenberg Center Volunteer Usher Responsibilities
Each group assigning volunteers for their shows submit the names of the volunteers to me at least 72hrs prior to
show start. If your groups does not provide ushers you will pay for the equivalent number out of revenue.
VOLUNTEER USHER OBJECTIVE: To provide quality customer service to patrons attending SPA events at
the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, assist in event preparation and conclusion and effectively assist
patrons in an emergency.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES (to be discussed at orientation)
1. Arrive on-time one hour prior to show start to undergo orientation with House Manager.
2. Dress Code for front of the house usher staff is all black business casual.
3. Assist with event programs. Duties include stuffing programs with inserts, distribution of programs to
stands, maintenance of programs and collection of programs at events’ end.
4. Actively assist with established emergency procedures. (Familiar with location of exits and emergency
behaviors)
5. Assist House Manager with procedures related to safety and security of the patrons and center.
6. Assist patrons with disability-related issues.
7. Provide accurate knowledge to patrons regarding venue logistics (i.e. location of ticket office, restrooms,
phones, concessions, coat check, etc.)
8. Read event tickets and ensure proper dates, times and location of theatre before permitting patrons in.
9. Escort patrons to their seats.
10. Monitor physical surroundings in assigned area prior to and throughout event for safety, cleanliness and
functionality; contact the House Manager with questions, comments, or concerns.
11. Respond quickly and courteously to patrons’ needs, questions, comments, or concerns with answers
and/or action.
12. In case of emergency, actively assist in safeguarding patrons.
13. Check out with House Manager at end of event.
Production Expectations
What the advisors (Laurie McCall and Peter Whinnery) will do:
 Provide basic advisement on the requirements of using a particular space.
 Provide a basic sample and overview of a production schedule, and the student tech staff needed.
 Discuss appropriateness of initial design concepts.
 Review the production schedule hourly limitations. (Mandated by the Provost’s Office)
These are the maximum number of hours your group may use tech staff. Work light rehearsals with no
tech staff will not count. Meal hours will not count.
o Theatre - 50 tech hours including shows (approximately 38 non show hours)
o Musical - 60 tech hours including shows (approximately 48 non show hours)
o Dance – 40 tech hours including shows (approximately 28 non show hours)
o A Cappella & Other – 20 tech hours including shows (approximately 12 non show hours)
 If the maximum tech hours are exceeded your organization will lose performance privileges for the
following semester or year.
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Advise on collaborative projects prior to scheduling.
Provide ongoing support and advisement when necessary.
What the students will do:
 Schedule and attend 6, 4 and 2-week production meetings with the appropriate staff person. (See
production check list)
 Provide a complete list of production and technical staff needs to Laurie McCall, Peter Whinnery and
your facilities staff (Irvine Production or Annenberg Center).
 Provide AT MINIMUM a light and soundboard operator and stage manager for each performance in
IGT, The Prince, The Studio and Houston Hall Auditorium.
NOTE: For Dunlop, SAC will pay for sound equipment (ordered and approved by the Director of
Student Performing Arts, but groups must provide a student to run it.)
 Have a full production staff (see above) (dependant on type of performance and location) 2 weeks prior
to tech week. If the minimum production staff is not met the show will be cancelled.
 Provide the minimum ushers per space requirements
o Irvine – 6 or 7
o Zell – 6 or 7
o Prince - 4
o IGT - 6
o HH Aud - 4
o Rainey - 4
o Dunlop - 6
o Harrison – 6
 Usher names should be submitted to the facilities staff 1 week prior to the production. If the minimum
number of ushers do not show the facility will provide ushers for that show and the next show at the
organizations expense. (SAC will not cover this expense)
 Your organization must adhere to the tech hour restrictions listed above.
 Submit the post show evaluation form to PAC exec.
 Have any technical costs above and beyond equipment already in the theatre approved by the Director of
Student Performing Arts prior to rental or purchase.
What the technicians/facilities staff will do:
 Work in an educational and considerate manner with all students. Serve as mentor, teacher, advisor.
 Schedule and attend 4 and 2 week production meetings
 Provide written templates of standard tech schedules
 Alert Peter Whinnery and Laurie McCall of ongoing problems/concerns
 Produce a written cost estimate 2 weeks prior to the performance to be approved by Laurie McCall.
Any costs above and beyond technical staff must be approved by Peter Whinnery or Laurie McCall prior
to commitment.
 Enforce hourly limitations for student performance groups during tech time, while considering
emergency and unforeseen situations.
 Alert Peter Whinnery and Laurie McCall when a student group approaches or exceeds their allotted tech
time in a space.
 Make every effort to keep all costs, equipment and staffing at a minimum.
 Complete a written post-production evaluation form within 2 weeks of the performance date. Collected
by the Director of Student Performing Arts.
 Complete budget transfer/billing transactions within 2 weeks of the performance date.
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Poster Policies
You may not poster over other university organizations
You may only post two posters on each kiosk.
You may not poster on the ground, poles, signs, benches or buildings.
You may chalk Locust Walk and Wynn commons and only on uncovered ground where rain will wash it away.
You man not chalk buildings, building steps or any decorative item (like the compass).
You may not use spray chalk or hair spray over the chalk.
You must have permission to post in any university building – particularly college houses.
Additional polices are found at:
http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/osl/postpol.html
Other important Polices
The University takes very seriously its own and the state anti-hazing policies and laws. Please familiarize
yourself with these policies at:
www.vpul.upenn.edu/osl/hazing.html
For other important university policies see:
www.vpul.upenn.edu/osl/policies.html
Under no circumstances is alcohol or other illegal substances to be present in any rehearsal or performance
facility. If students are identified with alcohol or other illegal substances in a rehearsal or performance space
they will be subject to investigation and possible repercussions as determined by the office of Student Conduct.
In addition the group will immediately lose all rehearsal and performance space for the remainder of that
semester.
If alcohol or other illegal substances is logically presumed to have been present at a show or rehearsal, either in
connection with students or the audience, additional security will be mandated for that organization on
subsequent shows at their cost.
All tickets for PAC recognized groups should include “Alcohol is not permitted at this event.”
All program covers will be required to include “Alcohol is not permitted at this event. Violators will be sent to
the Office of Student Conduct.”
All posters should say “This is an alcohol free event”.
If problems of this nature persist individual facility managers have the right to refuse facility use for specific
organizations.
Other events.
PAC groups may not serve as sponsoring agents for all-campus, large performances unless 1) they can prove
that all costs will be covered with no loss to the organization. AND 2) they partner with one or more
committees of SPEC (social planning and events committee). SAC allocated funds may only be used towards
performances of the funded organization.
Workshops
On a regular basis and often in collaboration with other University organizations, Student Performing Arts and
the Performing Arts Council provide master classes and workshops in skill building related to the performing
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arts. These are available to all students and sometimes community members, and can be found at:
www.vpul.upenn.edu/platthouse/events.html or by contacting the Platt Student Performing Arts House at 215898-2312 or platthouse@pobox.upenn.edu.
Community Service
PAC has a community service coordinator whose responsibility it is to assist, if needed, any PAC groups who
do or wish to do community service as part of their mission. The Community Service Chair also collaborates
with Center for Community Partnerships and the Civic House to provide opportunities for performing arts
groups and their members to serve the greater Philadelphia community. Information on service activities can be
found by contacting the Platt House Associate Director, Laurie McCall lmccall@upenn.edu or 215-898-7038.
Performing Arts Council -Ticket Donation Guidelines
PAC’s Community Service Chair as well as the Associate Director of the Platt Student Performing Arts
House are continuing a new community service initiative. This initiative is to give our community members
who have limited resources the opportunity to see live performance art. The Community Ticketing Program
will allow PAC groups to donate a portion of their tickets to the community for their show. The Platt Student
Performing Arts House Associate Director, Laurie McCall, is the main point person for PAC group leaders as
well as the community organizations we are working with. To make this experience a positive one for all
involved we have decided on some guidelines to clarify the process of ticket donations.
PAC groups interested in donating tickets should:
 Decide the number of tickets you want to donate. There is no minimum or maximum amount, but a
suggested range would be from 5-20 tickets for one performance.

Choose the performance date(s) your group would like to donate tickets.
Once these two decisions have been made, e-mail Laurie McCall at lmccall@pobox.upenn.edu. The e-mail
should include ALL of the following information:
1. The name, date and time of the performance.
2. The location, both the auditorium name as well as the address.
3. A description of the show’s content and what audience it is appropriate for (e.g. general admission,
children, teenagers, or adults only).
4. Please note the length of the performance and if there is an intermission.
5. Include the number of tickets you are donating for each date (especially if you are donating tickets for
multiple shows).
PAC groups must e-mail this information minimally 3 weeks before the show. The more advanced
notice your group gives increases the chance all of the tickets will be used. The advanced notice is so
the Laurie can have enough time to contact our community partners to make them aware of the tickets.
*Some of our community partners need at least a month prior notification to be able to use the tickets.
If there is a certain community organization you would like to reach out to, include that in the e-mail as
well. If your group already has a contact person within a community organization, you do not need to
go through our process to donate tickets to them.
You will distribute the tickets by using Will Call. Each PAC group will be notified by Laurie the week
of the show as to how many tickets to have available at the box office for each group coming to the
performance.
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After the show, a member of your group must drop of the ticket stubs that have a mark on them which
indicate they were a donated ticket. This allows us to keep track of who has taken part in our program.
Instructors – paid or guest artists
All instructors or Directors must have signed letters of agreement with the Director of Student Performing Arts.
They will only be paid according to the stipulations of that letter. Additions or changes must be approved by
the Director.
Your SAC budgets
 All SAC recognized organizations have a SAC executive board liaison.
 Your treasurer must attend a PAC treasurer meeting – check the PAC web site or the digital sign for
dates and times.
 You may pay most invoices through your SAC account, but be aware that requesting a check for
payment of an invoice can take three to five weeks time. Some invoices can be paid with a procard and
that should be discussed and arranged with Jan – your OSL financial advisor.
 Any overspending in the categories given to you by SAC will put you in debt. You cannot move
allocated money without requesting to from SAC.
 Any PAC organization carrying a SAC deficit of $5000 or more at the end of the academic year (to be
determined by the Director of the Platt Student Performing Arts House and the Associate Director of
Student Life) will only be allowed one solo show or two collaborative shows for the next academic year.
Tours/Trip
SAC generally does not fund trips or tours.
The Shop
Theatre and musical theatre groups may use the shop to design and construct sets and costumes or design lights
and sound. All sets must be approved by the Technical Supervisor (Peter) and by any necessary staff for the
performance facility (Annenberg, Visual Sound) before construction begins.
Dance and other organizations may schedule up to 10 hours only in the shop as available (Theatre and Musical
Theatre take precedence) to create drops or very simple set elements.
The costume area is available to be scheduled by any PAC organization.
Shop Policies
 All work sessions must be scheduled through the Technical Advisor's office. Failure to do so will
result in denial of use. Repeated failure may result denial of any future use.
 Unsupervised work is not allowed.
 Wear appropriate clothing: Exposed skin is vulnerable to irritation and injury. Wear trousers and long
sleeved shirts. Consider keeping a set of work clothes in the shop Leather work boots are highly
recommended. Open toe shoes, sandals, flip flops, etc. are prohibited in the the shop.
 It is expected that safety goggles and appropriate hearing protection will be worn when working with
any kind of power equipment.
 All users of power tools must be shown the proper adjustment and safe use of each tool. This training
must be documented before use of tools will be allowed. If you are not thoroughly familiar with the
operation of a piece of equipment obtain the necessary instruction from the Shop Supervisor, your
instructor, or other qualified person before proceeding.
 All tools are to be returned to their proper storage area at the end of a work session. Clean up at the end
of a each work session. This includes: disposing of scrap lumber and materials, returning unused
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material and stock to its proper storage area, and sweeping the floor. All trash must be taken to the
compactor daily.
Tool Time! The last 15-30 min. of each work session will be devoted to clean-up so allow for it (even if
you plan to return the same day).
No tools are to leave the shop without the permission of the Technical Advisor or Shop Supervisor. All
tools must be signed out and inspected upon return. Lost tools must be replaced by the group
responsible.
Report any damage or breakage of equipment to the Technical Advisor or Shop Supervisor immediately
upon discovery. By doing so, the item can be repaired or replaced quickly without interfering with the
work of everyone using the shop.
Spray painting is not permitted within the shop due to fire code restrictions and health risks associated
w/ inhalation of the paint. The shop is not adequately ventilated for spray painting.
Small scale, short duration spray painting be completed outdoors (or on the ramp).
Groups must clean up all areas and materials used for painting at the end of the work session. This
includes brushes, rollers, buckets and unused paint. All unused paint must be disposed of or stored
properly.
For more information on the PAC Shop including materials and equipment available go to
www.dolphin.upenn.edu/pacshop or email pacshop@dolphin.upenn.edu.
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